New Lawyer’s Oath pledges civility By Sarah G. McC. Moise “A lot of times lawyers think of themselves as being zealous advocates,” says Rob Wilcox, ethics professor at University of South Carolina School of Law, “but the public’s view is that lawyers are focusing heavily on money and being hired guns for their clients. These are not attractive qualities and don’t build trust and confidence in the system.”
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association opens Columbia office By Sarah G. McC. Moise The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association has opened its first South Carolina office in Columbia. The 750-member nonprofit group was created in 1979 to support and expand local organic agriculture in the Carolinas.
EDITORIAL By Bill Settlemyer Six years have passed since Noisette Co. CEO John Knott gave me a sneak peek at a map of North Charleston displaying the outlines of a project to redevelop 3,000 acres in the heart of the city. John could barely contain his excitement about the opportunity to work with Mayor Keith Summey, city council and the citizens of North Charleston on one of the most ambitious redevelopment projects in the nation.
Lowcountry Graduate Center to offer electrical engineering program By Matthew French Late last month when the Lowcountry Graduate Center announced it would start offering graduate courses in electrical engineering, it marked a turning point for Charleston area graduate programs. For the first time, a dedicated engineering graduate program is located in the region.
QUICK NOTES By Dennis Quick
– Doctors’ digs. The Lowcountry’s medical office space market shows lots of vim and vigor, according to a recent report from local commercial real estate firm Colliers Keenan.
While more space is available, absorption of existing space remains strong. This means the Charleston area continues to attract physicians.
Here are some numbers: …
Local maritime fuel company scores big with DOD By Matthew French A local marine fuel company you’ve probably never heard of has scored a major deal by landing a multimillion-dollar contract with the U.S. Department of Defense.
THE BRACK REPORT By Andy Brack Privatization—the practice of paying big business to handle services traditionally provided by government—may start to rear its ugly head more in South Carolina.
New curriculum trains students in global markets By Holly Fisher Globalization and international trade are a very real part of the state’s business community and there is no indication their impact is lessening. Thanks to technology, particularly the Internet, even small businesses can now work with clients and customers around the world.
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT By Wayne Outlaw When does the development of an executive begin?
New firm generates high hopes on tough biotech road By Dennis Quick The arrival earlier this month of Neurological Testing Services, a biotech company that tests drugs that fight Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, could be just the medicine the Lowcountry’s ailing biotechnology industry needs.
PEOPLE
FINANCE
New England Financial/Carolina Capital Management has hired Michael Grueneberger as a financial representative. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in economics from the College of Charleston.
Peggy Richardson has joined First Independence Mortgage Corp. as senior loan officer for the company’s Charleston branch. …
Playing by new rules By Matthew French Investment advisors registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission have just over one month to comply with new federal guidelines that are designed to increase accountability for asset management firms.
Listmaker: Credit Unions Business executives share many qualities, such as leadership, ambition and a drive to make a difference. The Lowcountry is home to business leaders of all types and while they may share some of the same skills and characteristics, we at the Business Journal thought you might like to have a closer look at what sets some of them and their industries apart—and puts their companies at the top of the list.
FINANCIAL NEWS Complying with Section 404 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act will cost public companies an average 62% more than previously anticipated, according to a recent survey by Financial Executives International (FEI), the leading professional organization serving CFOs and other senior financial executives.
Prevecare hotel partnerships add luxury to medicine By Dennis Quick A Boston couple visiting Prevecare, a Daniel Island-based preventive medicine clinic, sparked a marketing idea that has the clinic thinking stars and diamonds and the potential business such glitter will attract.
Lowcountry prenuptial boot camps gain in popularity By Joseph Baneth Allen Lowcountry gyms and fitness centers are enjoying steady business from a new nationwide trend in the bridal industry called prenuptial fitness programs—often called bridal or groom “boot camps.”
TIME WELL SPENT By Honor Hawkins All fats are not created equal. Some promote health, while others can be a fast-track to heart disease.
Data for discounts By Sarah G. McC. Moise Many consumers see loyalty cards as a quick way to save money. Others are more suspicious of retailers asking for their name, address and other personal information in exchange for a card that allows the store to track their every purchase.
Pet supply retailer moving back into Lowcountry By Matthew French Ever since the North Charleston Petsmart closed its doors earlier this year, the company has been without a representative store within 25 miles of Charleston. That is about to change.
DREAM director to market Summerville’s downtown By Holly Fisher Katherine Cauley spent many vacations on Hilton Head Island. Originally from Pittsburgh, her family regularly traveled to the South Carolina coast. Ultimately Cauley moved to Columbia, earning a degree in public relations from the University of South Carolina.
LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP: By Jack Hoey Sales have grown more than 50% in the past year for one of my company’s product lines. Sometimes business contacts will say to me, “You must be thrilled about this.” Well, yes and no.
Noisette prepares for waterfront park construction By Dennis Quick After more than three years of planning and publicity, the Noisette urban redevelopment project, touted as one of the largest in U.S. history, is about to begin its first groundbreaking.
Mixed signals in local industrial market By Martin Sinderman A recent pickup in leasing is providing some welcome good news for industrial landlords in the tri-county region—although there are signs that the market may nonetheless be tough for them in the short term.
THINKING GREEN: By Leanna Joyner One hundred and thirty students are receiving a better opportunity to graduate high school because they’re enrolled at the Child Family Development Center located on the former Charleston Navy base; this early learning is critical to the success they will carry forward with them as they enter kindergarten and beyond. As important as that is, though, the center is also helping parents be their child’s first teacher—a critical piece of CFDC programming.
REAL ESTATE CONVENTION AND SEMINAR CALENDAR
Aug. 24: Construction Delay Claims seminar
This Lorman Education Services seminar will provide information on how time and delays impact construction projects. Attendees will learn how to protect against delay damages through contractual provisions, how to recover delay damages and how to defend a delay damages claim. Topics include: An Overview of Work Stoppage, Work Slowdown, Termination and Liability; Contractual Provisions, Their Limitations, Consequences and Provisions; and Enforcement of Contractual Provisions. …
REWRITE: By Dennis Quick In George Saldana’s office stands a small pile of old bricks. Saldana is executive director of the North Charleston Housing Authority, and the bricks are remnants of North Park Village, a public housing neighborhood near the old Navy base and the subject of a Business Journal story a year ago.
BEST PRACTICES IN CONSTRUCTION: By Tom Frisby “What do you think of the recent survey by Fails Management Institute that revealed 84% of members of the construction industry saw ‘unethical practices’ in the past year?”
North Charleston OKs World Trade Center site By Dennis Quick By a 9-2 vote Aug. 11, North Charleston City Council approved the site on which South Carolina’s first World Trade Center building will be constructed. The groundbreaking on the 20,000-square-foot parcel next to the performing arts center will happen in the first half of 2005.
New web site helps homeowners go green
GreenHomeGuide, a community-based guide to environmentally sound home remodeling, will debut on the Internet Aug. 23 at GreenHomeGuide.com.
Although the site is targeted to Northern California homeowners by providing a forum and resource for green building professionals and homeowners on creating healthier homes and healthier lives while supporting local businesses, it will expand later to include other U.S. cities. In addition, anyone who visits the site can find green remodeling guidance for the kitchen, bathroom,…
Mount Pleasant awaits new 12-acre office-flex development By Sarah G. McC. Moise
A new piece of property in Mount Pleasant is being developed into an office-flex park, according to Bob Caldwell of Caldwell Commercial LLC, broker for the project. The 12-acre tract is on Clements Ferry Road, in front of Beresford Hall Subdivision and across from the Charleston Regional Industrial Park.
…
Seaside Farms nearing completion By Sarah G. McC. Moïse
In the final stages of its commercial development of Seaside Farms in Mount Pleasant, The Beach Co. is furthering its collection of retail shops and restaurants. Seaside Farms is a resort-style village developed by The Beach Co., LS3P Associates Ltd., Design Works, Thomas and Hutton and Gulf Steam Construction Co. …
REAL ESTATE PEOPLE:
84 Lumber Co. has hired Patterson Milbourn as a manager trainee at the Mount Pleasant store. Milbourn is a 2001 graduate of the College of Charleston.
Rapid Repairs has hired Wayne Caston as a repair partner. He has 20 years of experience as a carpenter with home improvement experience.
…
SALES MOVES By Jeffrey Gitomer Take me to your leader. If you have one.
Southern working class face real estate affordability issues Elementary school teachers, police officers, licensed practical nurses, retail salespersons and janitors cannot afford to purchase median-priced homes based on median income in a number of metropolitan areas of the country and particularly in some Southern areas, according to “Paycheck to Paycheck: Wages and the Cost of Housing in Counties,” a study produced by the Center for Housing Policy for the National Association of Counties.
CALENDAR
AUG. 24: Charleston Commissioners of Public Works board meeting. 9 a.m., 103 St. Philip St., first floor conference room.
AUG. 25: Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Charleston Area Business Council. 7:30-9 a.m. at Jason’s Deli on Savannah Highway. Information: 805-3039.
AUG. 25: Girl Scouts of Carolina Low Country’s 2004 Women of Distinction Dinner, cocktails 6 p.m., dinner 7 p.m. Francis Marion Hotel. Women are chosen for the honor based on their achievements and contributions to…
